Sound reflecting structure



Nov. 5, 1968 J, A. WENGER ETAL 3,409,099

SOUND REFLECTING STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 17, 1965INVENTORS YA. (Ms/van? y HARVEYMI/RCH JERR Wuhan/a1 Arrpkrvs YJ' Nov. 5,1968 J. A. WENGER ETAL SOUND REFLECTING STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INYEN'TQRJ YA. VVENGER JFFRR BY fl ARVEYM l/RCH WM Fed March 17, 1965 &

ArroRNtEY-f Nov. 5, 1968 J. A. WENGER ETAL 3,409,099

SOUND REFLECTING STRUCTURE 7 Filed March 1'7, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.3

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Nov. 5, 1968 J. A. WENGER ETAL 3,409,099

SOUND REFLECTING STRUCTURE,

Fived March 17, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I IN VENTORS JZERR YAWENGER BYHARVEY/l4.- URcH Mew Arroknsvr United States Patent 3,409,099 SOUNDREFLECTING STRUCTURE Jerry A. .Wenger, Owatonna, and Harvey M. Urch,West Concord, Minn., assignors to Wenger Corporation, a corporation ofMinnesota Filed Mar. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 440,501 8 Claims. (Cl. 181-30)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An articulated acoustical canopy unit in astage area having an over head batten. The canopy unit has a pluralityof panel members with adjacent sides of the panel members hingedtogether. Hanger assemblies support the panel members from the overheadbatten. The hanger assemblies have struts which are releasably connectedat one end at selected positions to the panel members so that therelative angular positions of the panel members may be changed.

This invention relates to an acoustical canopy unit having soundreflecting surfaces for blending sounds of a performing group such asmusicians, dramatists, orators or the like, and reflecting the soundsout toward an observing audience area. More particularly the inventionrelates to foldable ceiling baffle structure capable of being supportedfrom conventional stage rigging above a performing group to provideaccurate and effective sound projection out into the audience area.

It is known that controlling the reflection of sounds created by aperforming group improves the artistic character of the verbal oraudible picture. One of the criteria for proper, accurate and effectivesound projection is the sound reflecting surface above a performinggroup. This surface in addition to reflecting sounds, should beadjustable to simulate a music shell so that all members of theperforming group hear each other clearly and distinctly, that the soundof the entire ensemble is unified and blended and that a large portionof this blended sound is reflected to the audience.

The stage area of the typical theater has an open top used to storebackground scenery and other prop items. These items are usuallysupported by stage fly riggings which include horizontal battens. In usethe riggings are lowered to position the background scenery and propitems in the stage area and raised to store these items above the stagearea.

It is the object of this invention to provide an improved canopy unitwhich is usable with the normal stage rigging to cover a substantialpart of a stage area for a performing group and is capable of beingstored in the space above the stage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a canopy unit having soundreflecting faces which are angularly movable together and adjustablerelative to each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of soundreflecting surfaces which are adjustably positioned relative to eachother for tuning sounds or directing sound toward a particular location,such as a dead spot in the audience area.

A further object of the invention is to provide an articulate canopyunit which is readily folded into a relatively small flat space forstorage and transportation purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an articulate stage canopyunit having sound reflecting surfaces which is foldable to a storageposition wherein the sound reflecting surfaces are in face-to-faceprotected relation so that they cannot be damaged by other stage riggingor during transit from stage-to-stage.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a 3,409,099 PatentedNov. 5, 1968 canopy unit assembly constructed from a plurality ofsubstantially similar canopy units which are readily assembled with anddisassembled from each other.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a canopy unitassembly having one or more similar canopy units thereby making thecanopy unit assembly versatile and usable with a wide variety ofarrangements of stage floor plans.

Another object of the invention is to provide an im proved safety latchfor releasably attaching a canopy unit to an overhead batten.

An additional object of the invention is to providr rugged andadjustable canopy unit which is stable when erected, economical in cost,and effective in use.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this inventioncomprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims. The following description sets forth indetail a particular illustrative embodiment of the invention, this beingindicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which theprinciples of the invention may be employed.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which thesame numerals refer to corresponding parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 11 ofFIGURE 2 of the canopy unit of this invention in extended adjustedposition and supported from a batten;

FIGURE 2 is a foreshortened side elevational view of the canopy unit ofthis invention;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 1 showinga plurality of canopy units in assembled relation with each other;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 5-5 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIGURE1;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIGURE1;

FIGURE 8 is an end elevational view of the canopy unit in foldedposition and supported from a batten; and

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 9-9 ofFIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings there is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 the canopyunit of this invention indicated gen erally at 15 in assembled relationwith an elongated horizontal member 16, such as a stage rigging batten.Cable rigging 17 supports the batten horizontally above a theatricalstage area. The rigging and batten are conventional stage accessoriesand are used to support the background scenery and prop items in thestage area and are operated to raise these items to a stored positionabove the stage area.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the canopy unit 15 is supported from thebatten 16 above the stage area and forms a top closure covering asubstantial portion of the stage area. The canopy unit 15 is a foldablestructure and as shown in FIGURE 8 closes to a compact upright positionenabling it to be elevated by the rigging into the area above the stagewithout interfering with other background scenery and prop items.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, the canopy unit 15 comprises a pair ofpanels 18 and 19 positioned in side-byside relationship with adjacentedges attached to each other by an articulate connection 21 such as ahinge assembly or a flexible tape. The articulate connection 21 extendsalong the entire length of the adjacent edges of the panels 18 and 19.FIGURE 4 illustrates the articulate connection 21 as a hinge assemblyhaving outwardly directed flanges positioned on the tops of the panels18 and 19. Bolt and nut units 22 and 23 secure the hinge assembly to thepanels 18 and 19 respectively.

The panels 18 and 19 are rectangular in shape, identical in constructionand may be made of wood, metal or plastic sheets. Preferably the panelsare plywood sheets having dimensions of four feet by eight feet. Panels18 and 19 have smooth, hard and flat bottom surfaces 24 and 26 toprovide optimum sound reflecting characteristics. The surfaces 24 and 26may have a curved, sculptured or other non-linear shape. The exposedperipheral edges of the panels 18 and 19 are protected with metalchannel members 27 and 28 positioned about the peripheral portion of thepanels. Fastening members such as wood screws secure the channel members27 and 28 to the panels 18 and 19.

As shown in FIGURE 3, beams 29 and 31 extend transversely across the topof the opposite end sections of the panel 18. In the same manner beams32 and 33 extend transversely across the top of the opposite endsections of the panel 19. Beams 29 and 32 are in transverse alignmentacross one of the ends of the panels and beams 31 and 33 are intransverse alignment across the opposite ends of the panels 18 and 19.Referring to FIGURE 7, there is shown a detailed view of beam 32 whichincludes an upright flange 34 having holes 36 spaced uniformly along thelength thereof as shown in FIGURE 1. The beam 32 has a horizontalportion 37 positioned on the top surface of the panel 19 and securedthereto by nut and bolt units 38. The beams 29 and 31 and 33 arestructurally identical with the beam 32.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the panels 18 and 19 are supported from the batten16 by a pair of spaced hanger assemblies indicated generally at 39 and41. The hanger assemblies 39 and 41 are substantially identical inconstruction. The following description is limited to hanger assembly 39shown in detail in FIGURE 1. Hanger assembly 39 comprises an upright barmember 42 pivotally secured at its lower end to the inner end of theupright flange 34 of the transverse beam 32. As shown in FIG- URE 5, abolt 43 projects through a hole in the lower end of the bar member 42and a hole in the flange 34 to pivotally connect the bar member to theflange. The bolt 43 is maintained in assembled relation with the flange34 by a nut 44 having :a split locking flange 46. A fiber washer 47interposed between the bar member 42 and flange 34 provides a firm yetmovable pivot joint.

The upper end of the bar member 42 carries a safety latch indicatedgenerally at 48 comprising an inverted J- shaped member 49 forming ahook positioned over the batten 16. The downwardly projected arm of theinverted J-shaped member is secured by a weld to one side of the upperend of the bar member 42. The opening 50 between the topof the barmember 42 and the end of the J-shaped member 49 is partially closed withan angle member 51 pivoted by a pin 52 to the bar member 42. Pin 52projects through a hole in the first flange of the angle memberpositioned adjacent the side of the bar member 42. The angle member 51has a second flange 53 engageable with the other side of the bar member42 to hold the member 51 in an upright position so that the outwardlyprojected top edge 54 of the angle member 51 partially closes theopening 50 between the top of the bar member 42 and the end of theinverted J-shaped member 49. The inclined top edge 54 prevents thesafety latch 48 from becoming accidentally disconnected from the batten16 as it functions as a wedging surface to hold the angle member in theclosed position. In order to remove the safety latch from the batten 16the angle member 51 must be rotated in a counterclockwise direction whenviewed in FIGURE 1 to an open position shown in broken lines to increasethe unobstructed size of the opening 50.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the pin 52 is coupled to the top section of thefirst flange of the angle member 51. A lock nut (not shown) is threadedonto one end of the pin 52 and bears against the first flange of theangle member 51 applying a friction holding force on the angle member51. This friction holding force inhibits the free movement of the anglemember 51 so that it will remain in either the open position or closedposition as shown in broken and full lines respectively in FIGURE 1.

Included in the hanger assembly 39 are a pair of struts 56 and 57 havinglengths longer than the bar member 42. The upper ends of the struts 56and 57 are pivotally connected to the upper end section of the barmember 42 below the safety latch 48. As shown in FIGURE 6, a bolt 58having an enlarged body 59 projects through holes in the upper ends ofthe struts to pivotally connect the struts 56 and 57 to the bar member42. A nut 61 secures the bolt 58 to the bar member 42. Washers 62surround the bolt body 59 and are interposed between the struts 56 and57 and the bar member 42 to provide clearance between the struts therebyenabling the struts 56 and 57 to have free pivotal movement about theaxis of the bolt 58. The lower ends of the struts 56 and 57 carrylaterally projected rivets 63 which project through holes 36 in thebeams 29 and 32. The struts 56 and 57, beams 29 and 32 and bar member 42form triangular structures which rigidly hold the panels 18 and 19 in asubstantially horizontal position or other selected position. As shownin FIGURE 7, rivet 63 has an enlarged head 64 having a size slightlysmaller than the diameter of the hole 36 so as to permit insertion ofthe rivet head through the hole 36. In use the weight of the panel 19holds the beam flange 34 in contact with the mid-section of the rivet63. The head 64 engages the side of the flange 34 thereby preventing theuncoupling of the strut 57 from the flange 34.

As shown in broken lines in FIGURE 1, the plane of the panels 18 and 19is rotatable about the axis of the bolt 43 by changing the position ofthe rivets 63 with respect to the holes 36 in the flanges 34 of thebeams 29 and 32. The entire plane of the sound reflecting surfaces 24and 26 is angularly displaced from the horizontal by repositioning therivets 63 of each of the struts 56 and 57. In order to change theangular relationship between the panels 18 and 19 one merely moves oneof the rivets 63 in a selected hole 36. This adjustment permits thesound reflecting surfaces 24 and 26 to be moved between the range of anacute angle to an obtuse angle relative to each other.

Referring to FIGURE 8, it is seen that by removing the rivets 63 fromthe holes 36 the panels 18 and 19 pivot at the articulate connection 21so the bottom surfaces are in a face-to-face relationship and extendedin an upright plane. When the panels 18 and 19 are in this position theyare supported from the batten 16 by the bar members 42 of each hangerassembly.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the length of the usable baffle structure isextendable by adding additional canopy units as required by the width ofthe stage area. The additional units are identical with the canopy unit15 and are indicated by identical reference numerals having the suffixesa and b. When a plurality of canopy units are used they are maintainedin an end-to-end relation by clamp devices 66 and 67 which havecooperative parts secured to the outer sections of the adjacent ends ofthe panels.

As shown in FIGURE 9, the clamp device 66 has a hook member 68 securedby screws 69 to the top of the panel 19. The panel 19a carries a lockmember 71 pivoted by pin 72 in a bracket 73 attached to the top of thepanel 19a. A U-shaped loop 74 carried by the lock member 71 engages thehook member 68 to hold the panels 19 and 19a in butting relationship.The clamp device is released by pivoting the lock member 71 in an upwarddirection as indicated by broken lines and thereby permit the loop 74 tobe disengaged from the hook member 68. The clamp device 67 and the clampdevices on additional canopy units are identical with the clamp device66.

In use, the canopy unit 15 is positioned on the horizontal batten 16 ofthe conventional stage rigging by moving the safety latch 48 of eachhanger assembly about the batten 16. When the inverted J-shaped member49 is positioned over the batten 16 the angle member 51 pivots to anupright position thereby preventing the uncoupling of the latch 48 fromthe batten 16.

The panels 18 and 19 are then rotated to a horizontal position or thedesired angular position. This position is maintained by inserting therivets 63 carried by the struts through the holes 36 in the transversebeams 29, 31, 32 and 33. The plane of the combined sound refleetingsurfaces 24 and 26 is adjustable by changing the position of the rivets63 with respect to the holes 36 in the transverse beams.

When it is desired to change the angular relationship between the soundreflecting surface 24 and the sound reflecting surface 26 one of therivets 63 of the corresponding struts of each hanger assembly 39 and 41is moved to a new hole 36 thereby pivoting one panel relative to theother panel about the articulate connection 21.

Additional canopy units such as units 15a and 15b may be assembled onthe batten 16 in end-to-end relationship. These units are connected toeach other by the clamp devices 66 and 67 as shown in FIGURE 3.

In summary, the canopy unit 15 of this invention has sound reflectingsurfaces which are positionable over the stage area to form a topclosure for the stage area. In use, the sound reflecting surfacesfunction to blend the sounds created in the stage area and direct thesounds out into an audience area. The canopy unit 15 is readilyattachable to a horizontal batten of conventional stage rigging and isadjustable to vary or change the angular plane of the sound reflectingsurfaces according to the requirements of the particular stage area.Changes in the relative positions of the planes of the sound reflectingsurfaces permits sound to be directed toward a particular location, suchas a dead spot in the audience area.

The canopy unit 15 is foldable into a storage position as shown inFIGURE 8 wherein the sound deflecting panels 18 and 19 are in an uprightplane thereby permitting the entire canopy unit to be moved upwardly andstored in a minimum of space. When the panels are in the storageposition the sound reflecting surfaces 24 and 26 are in face-to-faceprotected relation. Thus, the surfaces, being unexposed, cannot bescratched or otherwise damaged by other stage rigging or damaged duringtransit from stage to stage. This is accomplished by merely releasingthe rivets 63 at lower ends of the struts from the transverse beams 29,31, 32 and 33 and permitting the panels 18 and 19 to swing in a downwarddirection.

It is apparent that many modifications and variations of this inventionas hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spiritand scope thereof. The specific embodiments described are given by wayof example only and the invention is limited only by the terms of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sound reflecting canopy unit usable in a stage area having anoverheat batten comprising:

(a) a plurality of panel members, each member having a top surface and abottom surface,

(b) means articularly connecting adjacent sides of the panel memberswhereby the panel members are angularly movable relative to each other,and

(c) hanger assemblies for supporting the panel members from the overheadbatten,

(d) each hanger assembly having at least one strut releasably connectedat one end thereof at selected positions to one of the panel memberswhereby the angular position of said one panel member may be changedrelative to the remaining panel members. 2. A sound reflecting canopyunit usable in a stage 5 area having elevatable overhead riggingcomprising:

(a) a plurality of panel members, each member having a top surface and abottom surface,

(b) beam members having upright flanges extended transversely across andsecured to the top surface of opposite end sections of each panelmember,

(c) means articularly connecting adjacent sides of the panel memberswhereby the panel members are angularly movable relative to each other,and

(d) hanger assemblies for supporting the panel members from the overheadrigging,

(e) each hanger assembly having strut means releasably connected to theupright flanges of adjacent beam members at selected positions along thelength thereof whereby the angular positions of the panel membersrelative to a horizontal plane and relative to each other can bechanged.

3. The canopy unit defined in claim 2 wherein each hanger assemblyincludes:

(a) latch means for releasably attaching the hanger assembly to theoverhead rigging.

4. A sound reflecting canopy unit usable in a stage area having anoverhead batten comprising:

(a) a pair of panel members,

(b) means articularly connecting adjacent sides of the panel memberswhereby the panel members are angularly movable relative to each other,

(c) means for coupling the panel members to the overhead batten,including (d) at least two longitudinally spaced upright members havinglower ends pivotally connected to one of the panel members adjacent thearticularly connecting means and upper ends releasably connected to theoverhead batten, and

(e) strut means pivotally connected to the upper ends of the uprightmembers, said strut means and panel members having coacting releasablemeans for connecting the strut means to the panel members at selectedpositions whereby the angular position of one panel member can bechanged relative to the other panel member.

5. A sound reflecting canopy unit for use in a stage area having anoverhead batten comprising:

(a) first and second panel members, each member having a top surface anda bottom surface,

(b) means articularly connecting adjacent sides of the panel memberswhereby the panel members are angularly movable relative to each other,

(e) beam members having upright flanges extended transversely across andsecured to the top surface of opposite end sections of each panelmember,

(d) at least two longitudinally spaced upright members having upper endsand lower ends, said lower ends pivotally connected to the uprightflanges of the beam members on one panel member adjacent the articularlyconnecting means,

(e) latch means for releasably attaching the upper ends of the uprightmembers to the overhead batten,

(f) strut means pivotally connected to the upper ends of the uprightmembers and releasably connected to the upright flanges of the beammembers at selected positions along the length thereof whereby theangular positions of the panel members relative to a horizontal planeand relative to each other can be changed.

6. The canopy unit defined in claim 5 wherein said latch means includes:

(a) an inverted J-shaped member forming a hook secured to the upper endof each upright member and positionable over the batten, and

(b) a latch pivotally connected to said upper end 7 8 forming a stop toprevent movement of the hook ing a portion of the space between said endof the from the batten. J-shaped member and the top of the upright mem-7. A sound reflecting canopy unit assembly usable in her when said otherflange engages said upright edge, a stage area having overhead riggingcomprising: and p (a) a plurality of canopy units, each unit having a 5(0) means pivotally connecting the upper section of plurality of panelmembers pivotally connected in said one flange to the upright member.side-by-side relative relation, (b) hanger assemblies supporting thepanel members References Cited from the overhead rigging, each hangerassembly UNITED STATES PATENTS having strut means releasably connectedat selected 10 positions to the panel members whereby the angularposition of one panel member may be changed relative to the remainingpanel members, and

(0) means for securing the canopy units in end-to-end 1,209,803 12/ 1916Benn.

1,325,358 12/1919 Elzey 248327 XR I 1,831,797 11/1931 Arnold -1 ISL-33.4

3,028,706 4/1962 Falconer.

3 139 260 6/1964 Hamel 248340 relative relation. 15 8. The canopy unitof claim 1 wherein: i??? 13 2; Wenger 2) XR each hanger assembly has anupright member, 5 i 66 Wengel' XR (21) an inverted J-shaped membersecured to the to 9 Jafie 181-30 section of the upright member, the endof the curved section of the l-shaped member being spaced 20 FOREIGNPATENTS from the top end of the upright member, 7 1/ 19 6 Germany.

(b) an angle member havingone flange positioned 4,365 1914 GreatBritain. adjacent one side of the upright member and the 346,792 4/ 1931Great Britain. other flange positionable adjacent an upright edge306,333 6/1955 Switzerland.

of the upright member, said angle member having an upwardly andoutwardly directed top edge clos- ROBERT S. WARD, JR., Primary Examiner.

